Event
Designing the 21st Century Air Force: A Conversation with Vice Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, Gen. Jim Slife

Join us Monday, March 24 as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General James C. “Jim” Slife discusses air base defense, lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, and the service’s new One Force Design.

March 24, 2025 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM ET (US Eastern)

RSVP for the Event

Event Took Place

The US Air Force is in the midst of a sweeping effort to modernize military strategies to counter evolving threats and the changing character of war. At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, the world is also experiencing disruptive technological changes not seen in a century. Advancements in autonomy, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and data are accelerating at a rapid pace with far-reaching implications for the future of air warfare and the Air Force. How is the Air Force adapting to meet these challenges? And what have the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrated about the future of war? 

Join us Monday, March 24 as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General James C. “Jim” Slife explores the Air Force’s efforts to maintain a strong deterrent in the face of strategic competitors.

Gen. Jim Slife serves as the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. As Vice Chief, he guides the Air Staff and serves as a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. He assists the Chief of Staff with organizing, training and equipping 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.

Gen. Slife was born outside of Detroit and grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University and has spent most of his career in special operations aviation assignments, deploying extensively. Prior to his current assignment, Gen. Slife was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia.

Featured Speakers

General James C. Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, United States Department of Defense

Dr. Kelly A. Grieco, Senior Fellow, Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program, Stimson Center (Moderator)

Brian Finlay, President and CEO, Stimson Center (Welcome Remarks)

Explore More Events

Upcoming Events

Past Events

Find an Expert

Home to more than 100 scholars and global affiliates, the Stimson Center is proud to be a magnet for the world’s leading experts on the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues of our time. Explore our experts and their work.

Ansgar Baums
Christopher Preble
Emma Ashford